'Grey's Anatomy' season 12 news, spoilers: Meredith to start dating soon, Ellen Pompeo reveals

ABC's long-running medical drama "Grey's Anatomy" aired its Denzel Washington-helmed midseason premiere on Thursday, Feb. 11, finally answering the many questions fans had about Meredith Grey's (Ellen Pompeo) much-hyped brutal attack.

Did she die? No. Was she paralyzed? No. Did Alex Karev (Justin Chambers) profess his undying love for her? No.

The emotional episode titled "The Sound of Silence" will surely spark some serious Emmy buzz, thanks to the masterful directing of its multi-awarded guest director.

"Denzel's involvement elevated the creativity of the entire episode," Pompeo told Variety.

"We've never had anybody of his caliber come and direct our show ever," the actress said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. "His charisma, he changes the energy in the room completely."

Although Thursday's episode was a harrowing one for Meredith ? who has previously survived such strokes of bad luck as a plane crash, a near-drowning, a rogue shooter, and a live bomb ? she has, yet again, made it out alive. According to Variety, Dr. Grey will also once again begin therapy and will soon start dating.

While Pompeo did not disclose who Meredith's new love interest will be, she did reveal that the character's fresh foray into dating will occur sometime in "the second half of the season."

According to creator and executive producer Shonda Rhimes, Meredith's "evolution" will continue in the back half of the show's 12th season. "It's been really fun getting to explore Meredith and where she's going and who she's becoming," she previously told EW.

Meanwhile, "Grey's Anatomy" actor Jason George (Dr. Ben Warren) also commented on Meredith's love life, telling Variety, "In the show, it's been a year or so she's become a widow so there are some people saying maybe you need to get back on that horse — is that what the kids are saying these days?"

"Grey's Anatomy" airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. on ABC.